John Hugley arrived at Pitt on Sunday, eager to open a new chapter of his basketball journey.
It will be a couple of weeks, however, before the process can get started.
A key figure in Pitt's incoming freshman class, Hugley isn't running around campus enjoying the perks of being at college for the first time. There are no pickup games with teammates. No working out in the gym or taking extra jumpers on the court. Heck, there's not even late-night runs for pizza.
Nope. On Monday, Hugley and the rest of the Pitt basketball team started a two-week quarantine, the first step in Pitt's phased return for student-athletes from the coronavirus pandemic. Men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer and volleyball began the process, while the football team returned in early June and is in its second week of small-group workouts for medically cleared players.
"It feels weird," Hugley said Wednesday night during the team's IG (Instagram) Live Takeover, which also featured former Panthers guard and current Duquesne assistant coach Ashton Gibbs. "There's been a lot of adapting, but I'm loving it so far. I'm quarantined with my teammates, so I'm getting to know them better."
Players might not be able to make late-night food runs, but at least they can have pizza delivered, play video games, hang out and listen to music.
And Hugley said one thing hasn't changed since leaving his Cleveland home.
"My mom still calls me every day, checking up on me."
Pitt faithful spent plenty of time checking in on Hugley during the recruiting process, and understandably so. If he lives up to billing, the 6-foot-9 post player could provide an answer to the Panthers' longstanding problems inside.
That attention began early but picked up in earnest as a junior, when Hugley averaged 16.1 points and saw his recruiting profile grow considerably. But, early in the process, Pitt faced an uphill battle.
"I didn't know too much about Pitt until they started recruiting me," Hugley said. "I was mostly (watching) Ohio State. In the ACC, I knew Duke, Louisville."
Jeff Capel and company eventually won Hugley over.
"Just seeing the city. It's a great city, great fans" he said. "The relationship that I built with the coaches and the players, it was like a no-brainer that this was where I wanted to be at."
But before Hugley could get to Pitt, he had to finish his high school career, and he did so with a flare.
How's this for senior-season stats? Hugley averaged 24.0 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 blocks. The runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Ohio and a first-team all-state player scored a Charles F. Brush High School-record 52 points in a game, and he saw his national profile soar.
In last nights win 2020 Ohio Mr Basketball Candidate John Hugley posted 26 points and 12 rebounds, Elmore James posted 20 points, Antwone Woolfolk had 10 points,10 rebounds and 8 assists.
We are now 16-5 on the season @PittHoopsMBB @Pitt_MBB @NEOhsAthletics @PittGuru pic.twitter.com/5loGbhNbLd
— chet mason (@ChetMason32) February 12, 2020
